Cutting machine for printing-press rollers



Dec. 15, 1925 1,566,184

c. M. EARLEY `CUTTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING PRESS ROLLERS A TTOHNEYS Dec. 15, 1925.A 1,566,184

l l l vc. M.r EARLEY CUT-TING MACHINE FOR PRINTING PRESS ROLLERS o Se Filed Dec. 29. 1923 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u S \O'\ V N lf- 5 l Il@ v I Jr.- ---vs INI/ENTUI?,

A TT OHNE YS.

' versally cut Patented Dec, 15A, 1925.

UNITED STATI-:s PATENT. OFFICE.

CLAUDE MILTON anLnY, orBnooxLYN, New Yoan.

CUTTING MACHINE lFOR PRINTING-PRESS -BOLLEBS.

Application led December 29, 1923. `Serial No. 683,481.

In the art of printing, it is necessary to divide the roller surface into longitudinally spaced sections when running through multi-colored work, and this is accomplished by cutting a number of circumferential grooves to produce the required number of divisions. The printing rollers which are of an extremely tough composition, usually glycerine and glue, are at the present time almost uniby hand with a knife for producing the grooves, as well as for trimming the ends. This practice, in addition to entailing a considerable amount of time and labor, leaves a rough finish to the groove which precludes the proper cleansing of the same and very often results in the mutilation of the smooth operating surface when running in the press.

It is, therefore, the outstanding object of the present invention to overcome the above recited objectionable features and disadvantages by providing a machine which operates to simultaneously trim the ends ofthe rollers and to circumferentially groove the same for dividing the surface thereof into the requiredl number of divisions.

. As a further object the invention contemplates a machine of the character set forth, which will produce a clean cut groove, leaving the surfaces smooth, even and uniform, whereby to eliminate any ossibility of mutilation while running, and) to permit of the washing and cleansing of the cut vportions with the same facility as the washing ofthe roller surfaces. o

The .invention contemplates as a still further object the provision of a machine of the character set forth which may be employed for the cutting of a helical or spiral groove in the surface of expedient to reduce the amount of ink to be fed from the fountin. By this method a more uniform feedi g of the color can be accomplished than under the present prac- 4a feed roller where it is4 tice, in which the press man is required to" intermittently lift the fountain pawl when an over-supply of color accumulates. InA this connection a still more important feature is the fact that a greater flow of ink can be carried by the ductor roller of the fountain, thus precluding the necessity of tightening up the fountain blade which ofttimes results in the cutting of the ductor roller of the fountain or springing of the fountain blade.

The invention furthermore comprehends a machine of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation, which is thoroughly reliable and highly ecient. in its purpose,

and whichis inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

With the above recited and other vobjects in View, the linvention resides in the novel fication, particularly pointed out in the apconst-ruction set forth in the following speci'- pended claims and illustrated in t-he accompanying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to'embodiments other than those actually illustrated herein to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the claims'arefexpressed. g

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front viewof a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 1ndicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the.

cutting or tr1mming'tools removed from the machine. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken approximately on the of Fig. 3.'

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged lsectional view taken approximately 'on the line indicated at 6 6 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken approximately onthe line 7--7 of Fig. 6. v l

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view 88 of enlarged sectional line 5-5 taken approximatelyon the line Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a circuit including one of the cutting tools.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the machine includes a supporting framework 10 which consists of vertical legs 11 connected by upper and lower longi-l -ber 21. A retaining bolt 28 vided with forwardly and upwardly dis-V posed extensions 19 which are apertured to constitute bearing brackets within which the lopposite ends of a shaft 20 is journaled for rotation. Adjacent one end the channel rails have secured to the upper sidea fixed bearing member 21, while 'an adjustable bearing member 22 is mounted on the channel rail 17 adjacent the opposite end of the machine. The bearing members 21 and 22 are each of angle construction, including a horizontal ange 23 resting upon the upper flanges of the channel rails while the vertical flange 24 is formed with a substantially Y-shaped bearing 25. The rigid or immovable bearing member 2l has its horizontal flange 23 riveted or otherwise permanently secured as at 26 to the channel rail 17, 'while the horizontal flange 23 of the movable or adjustable bearing element 22 is provided with depending inwardly bent ears 27 which engage around the free edges of the upper anges of the channel rail 17 whereby the bearing' member 22 is mounted for longitudinal adjustments to relatively s ace the same from the rigid or immovable earing memis threaded through. the horizontal flange of the movable bearing'element for retaining the same in -its longitudinally adjusted positions. The printing press rollers which consist of a central shaft A having reduced ends B constituting bearing trunnions are provided with a cylindrical body portion C which surrounds and is secured to the core or shaft A. As heretofore setforth the body ortion C usually consists of a composition o glue and glycerine which provides a tough yieldable material having characteristics somewhat similar to rubber. The rollers in their origmal form as delivered have squared ends which are necessarily chamfered or trimmed off .prior to their use. As heretofore explained, in the running of multi-colored work through a press, the surface of the roller is divided longitudinally into spaced sections by circumferentially grooving the roller body C. Under the present practice the ends are cut or trimmed by hand with a knife and the grooves are simultaneously formed by cutting parallel slits circumferentially, then gouging out the portion between the slits byhand with a knife. Due to the nature of the material from which the body C is made, the cutting requires a considerable amount of time andvlabor and the grooves when completed in this manner are very rough and the edges of the grooves so uneven that pieces of the roller body pull away when running through the press which causes considerable damage both to the'roller and to the work. The means' which is employed in the present instance for trimming the ends of the rollers for forming peripheral grooves therein consists of tools 30 which comprise a tubular shank'31 carrying at one end a substantially gouge shaped cutting head 32 projecting from a casing 33 which hoiises an, electric heating element 34 which when energized operates to heat the cutting head whereby the same will simultaneously cut and melt its way into the roller body. The free extremity of the cutting head is preferably inclined as at 34 and is formed at its juncturewith the main portion' of the head with an opening 35. Immediately in rear of the cutting edge 36 of the .angularly disposed portion a smoothing, burnishing or healing bead 37 is formed on the under side thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. Preferably the cutting head 32 is detachably associated with the casing 33 so that heads of various shapes and sizes may be interchangeably associated with the casing. As illustrated the detachable association consists of a threaded shank 38 on'the end of the casing and a threaded bore 39- in the cutting head. In order to provide means for mounting and associating the tools in operative relation to the roller4 when mount-ed in the machine, bearing elements 40 are provided which are in the nature of blocks having a bore 41 through `which the shank 31 is axially movable. A

intersects the bore or opening 43 for retain'- ing said bearing element in fixed position on the shaft 2O against axial or rotary movement with respect thereto. A longitudinal bar 4.5 is supported from one of the channel rails 17 by the uprights- 46,- the upper edge of said bar being substantially in the same plane with the axial center of the roller C when the said roller is supported by the bearing members 21and 22. The bar 45 constitutes a tool rest upon which the free end of the casing 33 is designed to rest for holding the tool 30 in proper juxtaposition to the surface of the roller C. The heating elements 34 are connected to insulated conduits 47 which extend through the shankl and are provided at their free ends with I plugs 48 adapted'to beinserted in the sock- ."able source of 4supply 50 controlled by 'a Switch 51.

` l"In use and operation of the 'machine the roller trunnions B have placed over their opposite ends and in .spaced relation thereto stop elements 52, aft'e'r which the bearing member 22 is properly adjusted to mount the roller C in the bearings 25 for rotation. `The tools are then relatively spaced to cut the desired number of grooves and certain of the tools are adjusted for trimming the ends of the roller C. After the heating ele'- ment has heated the cutting head to the de-` sired temperature, the angularly disposed terminals are brought into proper cutting relation to the surface and 4ends of the roller 'C and the roller is manually turned in a direction toward the cutting edges as illustrated by the arrow in Fig. 6. The heated condition of the cutting edge combined with the sharp cutting edge 36 will serve to gouge out the surface ofthe roller C, the strip D which is cut therefrom feeding through the opening 35 whereby it is separatedfrom the roller. The smoothing, burnishing or healing bead 37 which follows directly in rearof the cutting edge and which is also heated will serve to smooth oif, burnish or heal the surface of the groove cut whereby a smooth finish is given to the walls of the groove. Simultaneously with the formation of the grooves, it will be understood that the ends will be trimmed so that when the roller has been completely rotated in the presence of the tools, the trimming and grooving is completed in a single operation. Where it is desired to cut a spiral or helical groove in the feeding roller for the purpose of reducvthe lug and the same is provided with an enlarged medial boss 56 conformingv approxi- -mately to the shape of the slot 54. Normally the key is retained in an elevated position, asillustrated in Fig. 4, by the arrangement of the boss 56 crosswise of the opening 54 and resting upon the lug 53. When', however, the spiral cutting or grooving is to be accomplished, the key is turned to permit the boss 56 to register with the slot 54 whereby the boss will move therethrough to lower the key until its lower end engages in the .cutting one end of the shaft 20 for this purpose. In

this use of the machine a sprocket 58 is secured to theA end of one of the reduced portions or trunnions B and is coupled by means of a sprocketl chain 59 to a s rocket 60 secured to the end of the sha t'20 opposite to that which carries the crank handle 57. By manipulating the crank handley 57 the heated 'cutting head A32 will be simultaneously fed lengthwise ofthe roller C, while the roller C is rotating in a direction `towardthe cutting head. This will effect the cutting of the spiral groove for reducing the surface'area of the roller for the purpose heretofore set forth. By loosening the set Screw it is, of course, obvious that the heads `32 may be moved toward.- or away from the surface ofthe roller to regulate the depth of the groove to be cut, as

well as 'its width.- It is of coures to be unfderstood that where a straight groove is to be cut the sprockets 58 and 60 and sprocket 'chain connecting the shaft'2() and the roller C are not employed and are removed.' when the machine is used in this capacity.

.Iclaim:"'

1. A machine for trimming the ends and grooving the surface of printing press rollers, comprising means for supporting said rollers for rotation, av cutting tool, means for supporting the effective ortionof the cutting tool in operative relation to the path of movement of the surface of the rollers to be cut, and means for heating the effective portion ofthe tool.

2. A grooving and trimming machine for printing press rollers comprisin a supporting frame,

tion on the frame, a. rotary shaft mounted in the frame parallel to the axis ofthe roller, a plurality of cutting tools, tool carriers in which the tools are mounted for longitudinal adjustments toward andI away from the roller, said tool carriers mounted on the rotary shaft for adjustments longitudinally of the roller, means for retaining the tools in their adjusted positions in the carriers, means for retaining -the carriers in adjusted positions on the shaft, and means for heating the cutting edges of theA tools.

3. A grooving machine for printing press rollers comprising a supportin frame, relatively adjustable bearing mem rs for supporting a roller for rotation on the frame, a rotary shaft mountedy in the frame parallel to the axis of the roller, a plurality of cutllil relatively adjusta le bearing .members for supporting a roller for rotaedges of the tools ting "tools, toolcarriers in which the tools are mounted for longitudinal adjustments toward and awa from the roller, said tool carriers mountedI on the rotary shaft for adjustments longitudinally of the roller,

means for retaining the tools in their adjusted positions in the carriers, means for retainin the carriers in adjusted positions on the s aft, means for heating the cutting the said rotary shaft having a spiral peri heral groove, means on the tool carriers or engagement with the groove, and means for coupling the roller and said shaft for simultaneous movement whereby spiral grooving of the roller surface may be e'ected by the machine.

4. In a device of the character described, a cutting tool having a sharp cutting edge, a bead formed on the tool beneath the cutting edge so as to engage with the Work subsequent to the engagement of the cutting edge therewith, and means for heating the tool includin the cutting edge and the bead.

CLUDE MILTON EARLEY. 

